“Rocky Mountain National Park Dayhiker’s Guide” by Jerome Malitz
Published by Johnson Books in Boulder
Bear Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake
Distance: 1.1 miles to dream lake, 1.8 miles to Emerald Lake – one way
Elevation Change: 430 feet to dream lake, 600 feet to Emerald Lake
Elevation at destination: 9,900 feet at dream lake, 10,080 feet at Emerald Lake
Bear Lake
Although only a few hundred feet from its parking lot, Bear Lake is a scenic treasure. Behind its southwest shore rises the angular hulk of Hallett Peak; to the south and a bit east rises Long Peak. No lake has a more impressive backdrop. An informative, self-guiding, 0.5 mile nature trail goes completely around the lake, and several benches and platforms invite you to linger for a longer look.
Nymph Lake
The trail to Dream and Emerald lakes leaves Bear Lake and proceeds through pine forest to Nymph Lake – a joy in its own right. In midsummer, the deep blue water is studded with pond lilies. Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak frame the lake on the approach, while a few steps later it’s Longs Peak that again dominates the background.
Dream Lake
The lake deserves its name and fame – its magnificent. Hallett and Flattop peaks form the backdrop, here even more prominent and imposing than when seen from Bear lake. The shore is varied and irregular – in some places its knotted into rocky escarpments, in others it rises smoothly from the water to the forest’s edge. At the midpoint of the North Shore, a rugged peninsula juts out of the lake, its flanks ornamented by gnome-like limber pines. But those growing out of the rock on the northeast shore are the most picturesque of all – ancients of enormous girth, their roots gripping the rock like talons, they twist and lean over the water stretching the law of gravity to the breaking point. There is reason enough to stay here the entire day, but many go on to Lake Haiyaha or to Emerald Lake.
Emerald Lake
From its shore the lake is usually more onyx than emerald, the steely water reflecting the black flanks of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. It’s a stark landscape – totally different from Bear Lake, and even more rugged than Dream Lake.
July 2, 2003
Here’s the pics (Click on the picture to see full size):
These are low res pictures. I can send you higher quality pictures if you want them
